During winter, when you miss the scents and colors of spring, you can grow tulips and daffodils in a vase, in water without soil. I want to grow flower bulbs at home in time for February 14 and March 8, to gift in small glass vases to people dear to my heart.
How to Grow Bulb Flowers Indoors
Growing flower bulbs is very easy and fun; it’s an activity you can even do with children. Bulbs of traditional tulip and daffodil varieties are inexpensive and can be found in garden stores year-round.
Materials:
Bulbs of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, gladiolus, amaryllis.
Any decorative containers: vases, cups, bowls, pitchers, salad bowls, and even old Soviet-era crystal.
Decorative pebbles, glass stones, gravel, colored sand, plastic beads, buttons, decorative “seaweed,” moss.
Pebbles and stones for decorating and draining bulbs in a vaseA secret ingredient for keeping stems sturdy (detailed below).
Instructions:
- Soak the bulbs root-side down in warm water with Epin (if you have a growth regulator, it will help awaken the flowers, but this step is optional). Two hours is sufficient.
- Spread a layer of pebbles on the bottom of the container.
- Place the bulbs root-side down and secure them with another layer of decor.
- The tops of the bulbs should remain free of pebbles.
- Pour water into the container so that it barely touches the spot where roots will grow. Avoid completely submerging the bulb, as this can cause rotting before it begins to sprout.
- Place the container away from a bright windowsill.
- When the white roots start to grow downward, you can add more water.
- Monitor the water level in the vase – bulb flowers grow quickly and absorb a lot of water.
- Green leaves should appear within just a few days. At this point, you can move the vase to a spot with light and warmth.
- How to prevent the stem from drooping? Add alcohol to the water:
- 20% alcohol = 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol
- 25% alcohol = 4:1
- 30% alcohol = 5:1
- 35% alcohol = 6:1
- 40% alcohol = 7:1
- If the water becomes stagnant, place the container under running water in the sink and rinse thoroughly.
Bulbs of miniature daffodils, and not just them, can be planted in sand or small pebbles within an eggshell. Moss or decorative grass – even a bundle of yarn imitating a nest – can be used to decorate these “pots.” Such charming spring arrangements can be gifted for Easter.
It’s a pity that bulbs typically bloom only once, but growing tulips and daffodils in a vase as a long-lasting living bouquet will be a delightful experience.
